Award Date

5-1-2022

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Design

Department

Architecture

First Committee Member

Dak Kopec

Second Committee Member

Glenn Nowak

Third Committee Member

Steffen Lehmann

Fourth Committee Member

Tirth Bhatta

Number of Pages

147

Abstract

Objective

An affordable senior living community model must be developed to support the needs of our growing elderly population. Health, safety, and wellbeing depend on equal physical health, social health, and mental or psychological health provisions. As we look at each of these aspects, we must filter physical, social, and mental health based on the abilities of the older population.

Background

The aging population in western societies is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and has multiple implications for society, the economy, and other aspects of the community. Aging people who lack family support often require the services of a senior living community to ensure their health, safety, and wellbeing. However, many of these people have concurrently experienced a decline in wealth, limiting their access to these communities.

Methods

To gain a better idea of what current senior living communities offer, six case studies will be evaluated based on a collective case study methodology which assess multiple cases concurrently or sequentially to better understand particular issues. In this study, the issues will be provisions for physical, social, and mental health within each facility. These assessments will be based on the provision of equipment and quality of that equipment to facilitate the activity. Physical health aspects might include access to healthcare services, facilitation of a healthy diet and nutrition, and opportunities for physical activity that promote flexibility and strength. Social health is based on the ability for people to engage with one another, which requires the provision of gathering spaces that allow for organic conversation can occur. In addition, the physical and social health venues often support mental or psychological health but do not account for personal empowerment or self-determination. Therefore, methods for volunteerism or the ability to do something with limited barriers are essential.

Result

When a community can support its residents' physical, social, and psychological health, it will allow personal growth and inhibit cognitive deterioration. Suppose such a model can be developed and offered at an affordable rate. In this case, we will be better able to meet the needs of our growing senior population while ensuring optimal health, safety, and wellbeing. Conclusion The main benefits of this model are that installed from the external world where residents live in the community periodically. The design integrates the senior living community into the greater community by providing support that can be unitized surrounding the public, providing elderly people with diverse volunteer opportunities to give them a sense of purpose. This affordable development model offers amenities that could be rented out in a childhood care facility with occupants serving as volunteers to support these activities, including tutoring, peer counselor, and activities coach. At the same time, this could provide services for the external community to reduce the cost of rent for its occupants.

Keywords

Affordable; aging population; Mental health; Physical health; Senior living community; Social heah

Disciplines

Architecture | Art and Design

File Format

pdf

File Size

9900 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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